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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Guest Post #2 ~ Ayam Masak Merah

I guess the best way to describe Ayam Masak Merah would be ~ Fried Chicken cooked in rich-creamy Spicy-Tomato sauce.

Mentioned Ayam Masak Merah to a Kedahan (Kedah is a state in
the far North of Malaysia), would
immediately evoke memories of ‘Traditional Malay Weddings’ and perhaps Hari
Raya / Eid Celebration.

Yes… Ayam Masak Merah is not an everyday affair in a
typical household in Kedah. It is a unique dish to be enjoyed on special
occasions… served with Nasi Minyak / Savoury Rice, fresh salad of cucumber,
pineapple, cut-up chillies and red onions.

Ayam Masak Merah has unique flavours, the taste is beautiful
and unforgettable although it shares some basic similar spices (cinnamon,
cloves, star anise and chillies) to Chicken Curry. It is distinctively
different, be it in the texture of the chicken or the tantalizing flavours in
the sauce.

The chicken pieces are rubbed in with turmeric and salt and
are deep fried till golden in colour. Deep frying seals the juice as well
as it gives the chicken pieces, a firmer texture to every bite. The pieces are then added to the
simmering sauce. This gives the chicken, its rich flavour, with its subtle heat from the chillies,
sweet and sour-ish taste from the tomato soup combine with creaminess from coconut milk.

Moslems in Malaysia and around the world will be celebrating
Hari Raya Aidil Fitri,/ Eid Mubarak soon, perhaps Ayam Masak Merah could be one
of the dish that you might want to cook and join in the Celebration.

The recipe for Ayam Masak Merah courtesy from my sister... who happened to be a great cook.

I am submitting this to Suresh Chong of 3 Hungry Tummies for the Muhibbah Malaysia Monday..

Lisa, thanks for your guest post. It's seriously the best looking chicken dish EVER. I drool thinking of the kenduri and I had missed since moving to the US, sigh. Selamat Hari Raya and now my eyes are set on your kuih semperit. OMG.

Hi Lisa! Beautiful guest post and I always love your food photography. It always make me want to grab it from the screen - people say that often, but your photography is so beautiful that it's hard to see if it's real or not (sounds exaggerating? but what can I say, it's true!). I've never tried this dish, but your delicious chicken is already in back of my memory and will try it when I get a chance!

hi lisa, everything on your blog is seriously beautiful. your children must be so lucky to grow up eating all the things being cooked in your kitchen... theres so many great malaysian recipes here that i have to try... so thanks! haha